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Johnny Depp’s Sweeney Todd called them his “faithful friends” in a striking scene from that Tim Burton classic. But macabre movie references aside, a well-made straight razor is a man’s true friend. With proper maintenance, straight razors can last for several lifetimes.
Here are three of the best straight razors out there:
A Quick Glance At The Top 3 Straight Razors
Dovo Straight Razor Carbon – Ebony Wood Handle
DovosStraight Razor Carbon with Ebony Wood Handle made it at the top of our list. It is a high-quality German straight razor. It is very lightweight and easy to yield with a long-lasting ebony handle.
A.P.Donovan Professional 7/8″ Straight Razor – Mahogany
A.P Donavan straight razor is a high-quality Japanese blade that comes in a stylish wooden box. It has a thick blade that provides a deep shave and will last for a long time.
Parker SR1 Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor
Parker SR1 is a really good choice for beginners. It gives a safe shaving experience thanks to its security mechanism. It uses disposable razors, so you won’t need to sharpen and hone the blades, which might be a bit difficult for beginners.
Straight Razor Buying Guide
Nothing beats a straight razor when it comes to getting the closest and smoothest shave.
If you are used to the finish you get with bulky safety razors, you will be amazed by the difference. You can check here some of the best safety razors.
But a straight razor is not for everyone. They are very, very macho and masculine but also quite intimidating at the same time.
It takes a lot of time, patience and practice to master the art of shaving with these razors. But the results are well worth the time and effort.
In the next section, we are going to analyze what you should look for before buying a straight razor. We are going to take a look at the different parts of a straight razor and discuss what you should buy based on your needs and goals.
Anatomy Of a Straight Razor – Common Terms
When reading about straight razors, you might come across several specific terms that refer to parts of the razor.
Here is a short compilation of the more prominent terms.
Picture an open razor with the handle in your right hand, with the sharp end of the blade pointed downwards when reading the descriptions.
- Blade: The sharp cutting part of the razor, metallic, attached to a handle, into which it folds when closed.
- Point: This is the end of the blade, located at the extreme left of the straight razor when held open.
- Spine: The blunt back of the blade, opposite the cutting edge, and on the top.
- Tang: The completely blunt tail of the blade attached to the handle is often curved to serve as a grip for your fingers when you hold the razor.
- Jimps: Notches found on the tang of some razors for extra grip.
- Handle/Scale: It is the part that is used to hold the razor while in use, often made of wood.
- Marque: A stylized design, often painted or engraved on the handle of the razor.
- Gold Etching: A design or some text by the maker found on the blade.
1. The Blade
The blade is the most important part of a straight razor.
The best quality blades are made from stainless steel, with other metals like silver, chromium, and vanadium added for extra strength.
And the best straight razors use steel made in Japan and Germany. The following factors determine the design and type of a blade.
2. Width
Straight razor blades are often designated by fractions like 5/8 or 6/8. This is the blade’s width, described in an eighth of an inch. For instance, if a blade has a width of 25.4 mm, it is designated as 8/8 (one inch = 25.4mm). A 5/8 would be a blade with 18mm thickness.
3. Grinds
Blades can be single or double grinds, depending on the method used to thin the metal. This affects the profile of the blade but has no major impact on performance.
4. Point Styles
The two most common styles are round and square.
They both have their advantages and safety risks.
The sharp edges on a square point are useful for shaping mustaches, while around points can work in really tight areas and angles.
With the sharp protruding edges on a square point, it is easy to nick yourself. And it is the same with the round point since you are never quite sure where the cutting edge ends.
5. Handle/Scale Guide
- Wood is the most common material used to craft scales. Ebony and Boxwood are quite popular due to their density and durability. Snakewood, Cedar, and Olivewood handles are also common. Wood scales require extra maintenance, like waxing and polishing, to ensure longevity.
- Metal handles are less common but more durable than wood. Stainless steel and aluminum are the materials used most often. You may find silver handles on expensive premium razors.
- Modern plastics are cheaper and more durable options. Celluloid was often used in vintage razors, though it has been replaced by more advanced polymers like PVC and Bakelite.
- Animal products like horns and bones are often used in razor handles. The more premium ones like Mother-of-pearl and turtle scales used to be a popular choice until their hunting was banned. Ivory is also banned, though some manufacturers do offer high-end ivory handles made from mammoth fossils.
Additional Equipment
A straight razor needs extra equipment for proper maintenance and use. Some recommended items include:
Strop
This essential tool is often provided along with a straight razor. A strop is a long strip of animal leather on which you run the blade of your razor repeatedly in a specific way. Frequent stropping is essential to maintain the blade’s sharpness and reduce the chances of rusting.
Whetstone
Though not as essential as a strop, you will still need to run your blade across a whetstone every 3-4 months or so to maintain the razor edge and sharpness.
This process is known as honing the blade. Honing is different from stropping. In stropping, the process does not remove much metal from the blade.
All it does is straighten the sharp edge of the blade. In the case of honing, some metal is removed from the blade edge as you make it thinner are sharper.
Straight Razor Reviews
1. A.P.Donovan Professional 7/8″ Straight Razor – Mahogany
This is a very elegant-looking steel razor with a mahogany handle.
It comes with an exquisitely carved wooden box (mahogany), making it an ideal gifting option.
As mentioned in the product title, this is a wider 7/8 blade, which makes it much thicker than your average straight razor, which usually sports a 5/8 or 6/8 blade.
The blade is made from high-quality carbon steel sourced from Japan and has a soft rounded finish. The A.P. Donovan products are manufactured in the US, Germany, EU, and Asia.
The overall construction is very sturdy. The mahogany handle has a rich finish, with the fine grains standing out pretty well.
The manufacturers assert that the premium wood is sourced from the forests of Madagascar. Both the handle and the blade sport premium etchings and inlays of the brand.
Etchings on the tang indicate that this is a handcrafted product. The package includes just the razor and the box with no additional accessories.
This may not be the best razor for beginners due to the thickness of the blade and the bulk.
Pros
- High-quality Japanese steel blade.
- Excellent wooden scale and box.
- Premium-looking product.
- A thicker blade will last longer and survive more honing.
Cons
- No strops or accessories are provided.
- The larger blade can impede the view while shaving.
2. Parker SR1 Stainless Steel Straight Edge Barber Razor
With modern health code regulations, barbershops don’t use the same blade on multiple customers.
This rules out regular straight razors as the blade on these cannot be removed and disposed of.
As a result, a new design that incorporates disposable half blades into the traditional straight-edge razor chassis was created.
The Parker SR 1 is ideal for those who want a straight razor shaving experience without the constant honing and stropping.
Though this is primarily a professional barber’s tool, it can also be used easily at home.
You can use disposable blades with this razor. It accepts both single-edge blades as well as half of those double edges blades.
You get 5 Shark Super Stainless blades free with the package. One blade should last for at least 3-4 shaves. The razor sports an all-metal construction, completely crafted out of stainless steel.
The blade holder has a security mechanism to ensure that the blade is safely aligned. The blade is adorned with high-quality engravings.
Pros
- Beginner-friendly does not require stropping or honing.
- Gives a safer shaving experience.
- Excellent stainless steel construction.
- Comes with free blades.
Cons
- Not the authentic straight razor experience.
- You need to buy blades frequently.
3. Dovo Straight Razor Carbon – Ebony Wood Handle
Dovo is one of the top-name brands in the business of manufacturing high-quality straight razors in the modern era.
This is a high-quality razor made in Germany and sports the “Solingen” tag on the tang. Solingen is the city in Germany famously known as the “City Of Blades.”
The blade on this razor has a rounded point and is made from carbon steel, and sports a “Prima Silver Steel” etching in Gold.
In striking contrast to the blade, the handle is made out of dark ebony wood.
The word “Ebenholz”, (German for Ebony), is engraved in gold inlay on the handle. The blade is a 5/8, which makes the razor very light and easy to hold.
With the rounded point and lightweight design, this could be a great razor for beginners. The quality of workmanship is quite high.
Pros
- High-quality German craftsmanship.
- Long-lasting ebony handle.
- Comes with useful blue-metal storage tin.
- Very slim and lightweight razor that is easy to wield.
Cons
- Not the authentic straight razor experience.
4. Feather SS Japanese Straight Razor, Black
The Japanese have a unique straight razor design that is easy to spot out of the crowd.
Feather is one of the big-name brands in modern straight razor markets. And this razor has all the hallmarks of a quintessentially Japanese razor, with its unique short blade.
This is a non-folding straight razor with replaceable blades.
This a great option for beginners looking to foray into the world of straight razors.
Since the entire blade is replaceable, you don’t have to worry too much about stropping or honing.
The replacement blades from Feather and other lesser brands are quite affordable as well.
They use a specially engineered handle with a unique shape.
The material used is high-quality silicone resin.
The handle has a spring-mounted mechanism to hold the blade. It is easy to remove and replace the blades on this one.
The handle provides excellent grip, and the small blades provide excellent control while shaving.
Pros
- Blades use high-quality Japanese steel.
- Short blades offer improved control while shaping.
- Replaceable blades do not require any stropping or honing.
- A great beginner’s razor.
Cons
- Does not come with extra blades.
- The unique shape and design may take some time to get used to.
5. Boker Straight Razor 140521 King Cutter Black Handle
Boker is another big-name German company in the business of making knives and blades. They are based in the famous town of Solingen.
This is a well-crafted straight razor from German makers.
It sports a stainless steel alloy blade with a soft rounded point. The blade has some really exquisite etchings on the sides as well as on its tang.
The alloy contains silver with the aim of improved sharpness and cutting prowess.
The 140521 King Cutter is an affordable offering from Boker.
As a result, it sports a synthetic handle/scale.
This black handle is wear-resistant and quite durable. And the overall build is also quite slim, thanks to the 5/8 blade, making this a great option for novices.
If you were to compare German blades, the Boker does seem to have an edge over Dovo, while the latter has more premium scales
Pros
- One of the best blades on the list.
- Durable synthetic handle.
- Good looking design.
- Affordable for a high-quality German blade.
Cons
- Requires some stropping before use.
- Cheap handle when compared to other brands.
The Winner
If we had to pick a winner out of the list of the best straight razors, it would have to be the Dovo Straight Razor Carbon – Ebony Wood Handle.
This is a great straight razor for both beginners as well as experienced users. It has the best quality steel and scales made from the best wood for the purpose.
The slim 5/8″ blade and rounded point make it an easy-to-use razor overall. And it also provides a completely authentic straight razor experience, as you have to learn stropping and honing to get the best out of it.
Just remember that using a straight razor is quite different from using ordinary safety or DE razors. Read some guidelines online, watch some video tutorials and take things slow.
With patience, you should master the art within a couple of months. All the best!
Russell is the founder of themensattitude.com. He is a barber a beard enthusiast and he is obsessed with trying men’s lifestyle products and blog about them. If you have any questions you can hit him up via the contact page.
